Installation of cork flooring. How to lay cork flooring How to lay cork flooring

Cork flooring is an excellent material, undeservedly little widespread in Russia. Cork is better than the rest natural coatings absorbs sound and retains heat. Moreover, cork flooring is an orthopedic covering, because... reduces stress on the spine and joints.

There are two main options for cork flooring - glue and lock. The lock allows for quick installation, but only on a perfectly flat base. The adhesive plug can be glued even to an uneven surface, but it must be coated with varnish on top. The final varnish coating, however, makes the surface monolithic and protects the floor from spilled liquid. It is in the adhesive version that the qualities of cork are better demonstrated, because the cork layer is thicker.

Adhesive cork can be joined end-to-end with other coverings - for example, with porcelain tiles or parquet, and you can also lay cork flooring throughout the apartment without a single threshold. Glueless cork floors are connected only through thresholds, even if the same cork is laid in different rooms due to the nature of floating technology.

Preparing the base

In order for a cork floor to be stable for many years, not to swell or become loose, it should be laid on an ideal level. smooth surface. For demons glue plug This prerequisite. Backlash in the connections of glueless cork boards causes squeaking and breakage of locks. There are several types of cork bases.

Plywood base. In this case, the sheets moisture resistant plywood or chipboards are attached to a leveled screed and carefully sanded to perfect smoothness. You can also use the so-called “adjustable floor” - in this case, sheets of plywood are leveled by tightening special bolts. If the cork floor already has a finished cork base layer, then there is no need to use an underlay on the plywood.
Linoleum. Laying on linoleum is possible only if the floor is smooth and level. If there are even the slightest swellings, bumps or holes on it, the linoleum should be removed and the floor prepared, as when laying cork on a screed. There is no need to lay additional underlay on linoleum.
Screed or concrete base. This is the most commonly used method for installing cork flooring. In this case, the screed should be dried and leveled grinder or leveling mixture. The leveling mixture should be one that does not contain casein; it is advisable to add an enhancer like Primer to it to ensure proper adhesion. When laying on a screed, waterproofing is required. To do this, you can use either a moisture-proof substrate (for example, Tuplex), or lay a 200-micron thick polyethylene film with a wide overlap under a regular substrate (cork, for example).

After the base has been prepared, you need to warm up the room until optimal temperature at 18-22 °C. Cork floor tiles should be left in the room for about a day to acclimatize.

The glue for installing the adhesive plug must also be warm. It is not recommended to use PVA glue or water-soluble adhesives for cork flooring - they lead to swelling and damage to the coating. The best option- a special adhesive for cork, which contains polychloroprene and synthetic rubber. This glue sets well, does not harm the coating and dries quickly - you can walk on the floor immediately after installation. A special feature of cork adhesives is their instant adhesion, so if you lean the cork sheet against the base, it cannot be moved; be very careful.

Step-by-step instructions for installing adhesive cork flooring

First you need to mark the room. The cork is laid from the center of the room towards the walls. To do this, mark the center of the room and draw parallel lines from it in the direction of the walls. It’s worth first “trying on” the tiles by laying them out without glue - it sets quickly, so if the tiles are laid offset, they will have to be torn off and the base re-aligned.
The glue is applied to the base using a notched trowel. It is desirable that this be a tool with triangular teeth spaced 2 mm apart.
The glue is left for 20-30 minutes (depending on the characteristics of the glue and its quantity), after which sheets of cork are laid on it end-to-end without gaps and pressed tightly. After installation, the cork floor is tapped with a rubber hammer or rolled with a special roller. If glue gets on the tiles during installation, it must be removed immediately. As a rule, the glue dries completely in 48 hours - for this the room must be well ventilated.
Near the walls, where whole tiles do not fit, you need to cut them. This leaves gaps between the coating and the wall of 3-4 mm. If there is a door in the room, its bottom should be cut to the thickness of the cork floor.
After installation, the cork floor is sanded and degreased. A protective cork varnish or wax is applied to its surface. How many layers of varnish to use depends on the source material. Cork is available uncoated or primed. If the cork is uncoated, you need to cover it in 3-4 layers, if it is primed - in 1-2.

Laying glueless cork flooring

There are also ready-made solution, which does not require installation with glue, are cork boards with a plywood or wooden core, which are laid in a floating manner using a glueless joint. Such a floor, as a rule, comes immediately with a backing and a protective layer - just carefully secure it by snapping the lock, like a laminate.

Laying should be done from the edge of one wall to the other, row by row. The slabs must be joined staggered or in brickwork, avoiding the joining of 4 slabs at the same time.

The glueless cork can also be varnished for moisture protection. Or you can use specialized gel sealants for joints.

Cork floor care

Cork floors can be washed with a regular damp sponge; it is not susceptible to the effects of ethyl alcohol and solvents based on benzene or trichloroethane. At the same time, you should avoid contact with aggressive alkalis on the surface of the cork. If the surface is very dirty, you can carefully clean it using special means, an emulsion that gives the surface shine. If necessary, the contaminated surface can be sanded and recoated. protective agent- polyurethane varnish or cork wax.

Cork flooring It is distinguished by softness, environmental friendliness and comfort. This flooring is appropriate in a children's room and bedroom. It has high sound insulation characteristics. But in order for the coating to last as long as possible, the installation of cork flooring is carried out in compliance with technology. You can lay cork tiles yourself if you know some installation nuances and the specifics of choosing materials. We will also tell you how much cork flooring costs.

Types of adhesive cork for floors according to structure

Many useful and beautiful things are made from the bark of the cork tree, including finishing materials.
Floor adhesive plug has several varieties:

adhesive agglomerated cork coverings;
self-adhesive strips and tiles made from crushed cork;
cork laminate.

Sinter plug

This type of cork is made from crushed material. It is then mixed with synthetic-based thermosetting resins and pressed. The result is blocks with a density of 450-800 kg/m³. The semi-finished product is cut into sheets up to 0.6 cm thick. Next, planks and tiles with a maximum width of 30 cm are cut out of these sheets on a machine. maximum length 1.2 m. Products are glued end-to-end because they have smooth edges.

Important! The cost of a cork floor made from agglomerated cork starts from $11.6 per square.

The agglomerated adhesive plug on the floor has following features:

It is allowed to be placed on heated floors. But in this case you need to use a special elastic glue, which is marked that it can be used for heated floors.
Manufacturers do not recommend glue such a plug onto the screed with electrical system heating
If as finishing coating varnishing or waxing is used, then material suitable for installation indoors with increased traffic and significant loads on the floor, for example, in the living room, hallway, kitchen.
Adhesive cork floors successfully combined with other floor coverings (laminate, ceramic tiles, parquet).

Self-adhesive plug

These are thin slabs of veneered or traditional agglomerate. An adhesive layer is applied to the back side of the material. It is protected with paper on top to prevent the glue from drying out. Self-adhesive products are very convenient to lay on the floor, walls and ceiling.

Important! If you are interested in self-adhesive cork flooring, the price per meter starts at $13.3 per square.

This cork covering is produced mainly in the form of square tiles with a side of no more than 300 mm. Their thickness is in the range of 3.6-5 mm. Less common are planks on adhesive based a width not exceeding 180 mm and a length not exceeding 900 mm.

This adhesive cork flooring has the following features:

The front surface does not have a finishing coating and needs to be protected from the ingress of dyes, water, abrasive compounds and household chemicals.
Gluing is carried out without the use of additional adhesive mixtures, but for better adhesion with the base it must be carefully and correctly prepared.
Gluing is allowed on floors with a water heating system.
Self-adhesive cork can only be installed on the floor in a room with normal humidity, for example, in a bedroom, nursery, living room.
The coating is suitable for interiors in eco- and retro style.

Attention! Craftsmen install adhesive plugs at a cost of $4.8 per square. This price does not include foundation preparation services.

Glue plug installation technology

Before laying cork flooring, you need to prepare the necessary tools and materials:

Before laying the coating, prepare the base. To do this, you will need repair and leveling compounds for wooden or concrete base(epoxy or cement mixtures, self-leveling floors, plywood, OSB, chipboard, etc.).
Tiles can only be glued to a primed base. Therefore, for a wooden base, buy a fungicidal primer, and for a mineral floor, an adhesive primer is suitable.
The technology for laying agglomerated tiles requires the use of polymer adhesive.
As a final protective coating use wax, oil, acrylic or polyurethane varnish.
Brushes and rollers for applying protective compounds.
To apply the glue you need a short-haired velor roller or a notched trowel.
Level, tape measure, hygrometer, pencil, square, paint cord.
Rollers or mallet for rolling the covering to the floor.
Sponge to remove excess glue.
Drill for making technological holes and cutter.

Important! The material is laid after it has been left in the room where it will be installed for 1-2 days.

Work is carried out subject to the following indoor conditions:

heating appliances should not be running;
get rid of drafts;
the optimal air temperature is between 18-25°C;
relative humidity 55-65%.

Choosing adhesive for cork flooring

The adhesive installation method involves choosing a suitable glue. Thus, cork coatings without a finishing layer can be glued using water-dispersion compounds. Tiles with a varnish or vinyl protective layer are fixed using solvent-based adhesive.

It is important to remember that all solvent-based adhesive mixtures are flammable and slightly toxic, so work is carried out using protective equipment and in a ventilated area.

Important! Glue on organic solvents It is environmentally friendly and less toxic.

Adhesive compositions for water based They don’t like contact with water, so if the room is flooded there is a risk that the tiles will come off. If work is carried out in the cold season, then it is better to buy glue that is resistant to cold and temperature changes.

Selecting a laying scheme

If you use square tiles, then you can post them only in two ways:

according to the principle brickwork with a shift of the joint in each subsequent row by half an element;
traditional checkerboard stitching, seam to seam.

Important! Elements of rectangular and square shapes are laid diagonally in the room or traditionally parallel to the walls.

Regarding the elements rectangular shape, then they are laid in several ways:

traditional staggered masonry;
plain and triple brickwork;
diagonal laying;
herringbone flooring;
deck masonry;
network;
flooring in squares.

Preparing the base

The step-by-step process of laying cork flooring begins with preparing the base. Since the elements are small in thickness, all defects in the base will be visible after they are laid. That is why the beauty of the floor depends on the quality of preparation of the base.

Requirements for the rough foundation:

Compressive strength – not less than 150 MPa.
The maximum permissible height difference is no more than 2 mm per two meters.
The base should not have cracks, loose or rotten areas.
There should be no traces of glue, soot, grease, soot, bitumen or remnants of the old coating.
The residual moisture indicator for a wooden base is 8-12%, for concrete base within 0.5-2 percent.

Mineral screed or sheets are suitable for leveling the base. wood materials with bridging edges. Used to fill seams between sheets acrylic sealants or a mixture of PVA and sawdust.

To improve the characteristics of the base, deep penetrating and strengthening primers are used. If you need to increase adhesion to the base and make the absorbency of the floor more uniform, use an adhesive primer.

After this, begin marking the surface:

Using a tape measure or laser level find the center of the room.
Through the center, parallel to one of the walls, we draw a line from which we will lay the tiles. At diagonal laying the line is drawn at 45 degrees.
We carry out a preliminary layout of the cork elements in a checkerboard pattern or with an offset.
We cut the edge products to the required size, taking into account a centimeter gap around the perimeter of the room.
If required, technological holes are cut in the elements.
Sometimes the tiles are chamfered. To do this, the edges of the product are treated with fine-grained sandpaper, and the dust is removed with a damp sponge.

On the market building materials Cork flooring is becoming increasingly popular. This material is made from crushed cork oak bark by pressing. An ideal floor covering for those who prefer natural materials. Among the advantages of cork: resistance to combustion, antistatic, good sound and heat insulation.

If you study the issue in detail, laying a cork floor with your own hands is not such a difficult process. Availability the necessary tool and a responsible approach will make it possible to independently complete the work with high quality and without the involvement of specialists.

Installing a cork floor with a locking joint is similar in technique to installing laminate flooring. It is not advisable to lay a cork floor without first laying a waterproof film. Residual moisture from the floor surface can negatively affect the cork board.

The film is cut into strips and laid out overlapping, as well as running onto the walls. The backing is laid on top.

The first panel is laid in the corner of the room, and then the following tiles are sequentially secured end to end using a lock.

The second and third rows are assembled in the same way. The rows are connected to each other by a locking connection. It is very important that when laying the panels there is expansion joint between the wall and the covering.

Cork tiles with interlocking connection

If at the end the row is incomplete, the panel is cut off. The cut part is the beginning of the second row.

If the width turns out that the last row will not be complete, then the panel is cut lengthwise.

There are times when the panel lock is cut off and the panel is glued to the floor with glue. Such cases happen in hard to reach places for styling.

Laying cork tiles

The essence of laying interlocking flooring is similar to a floating floor. This installation method is faster and easier. The interlocking cork floor has only one drawback - it is not resistant to moisture.

Laying tiles

There are different ways, how to lay cork flooring. Cork tiles can be laid either flat (tile over tile) or offset (brickwork). When using cork panels irregular shape It is better to use the second method of flooring. This will help visually smooth out the unevenness of vertical lines due to different sizes cork tiles. The installation method is selected before work begins at the interior design stage.

Laying methods

Laying using the brickwork technique begins with laying a whole series of boards. The second row is laid in such a way that the beginning of the first board is located in the center of the board of the first row. All subsequent rows are laid in the same way. It turns out that each row is shifted relative to the previous row.

Adhesive coatings

Laying the adhesive plug on the floor has one peculiarity - it is laid from the center of the room. Because of this important stage When laying, the markings are correct and accurate. This determines how the cork floor will look in the end.

Marking before installation

To mark the center of the room, draw a contour parallel to the wall. Another line is drawn nearby, retreating from the first by the width of two tiles. When laying diagonally, the second line is applied diagonally to the room.

To get a beautiful pattern cork board pre-lay out on the floor, after which you can secure it with glue.

The first tile is glued perfectly exactly according to the markings, because even a small error at the beginning can lead to a significant deviation at the end of the work, and the overall picture of the design will be spoiled.

Applying adhesive to tiles

Contact adhesive is applied to the floor and cork tiles using a spatula. The adhesive applied to the tiles is left in place for half an hour. Then you need to glue the plate to the floor.

When installing the floor, the tiles are overlapped to create a tight connection. The edge of the panel must be held. The free part of the tile is pressed, and the resulting wave is smoothed towards the joint. This creates a tight joint. Additionally, each joint is tapped with a rubber hammer for a tight connection.

Leveling the base

Before laying any material, you need to thoroughly prepare the base for laying. The quality of preparation of the base on which the cork floor will be laid will determine its service life.

The stages of preparing the floor base are as follows:

Cleaning the surface from contamination;
Leveling the base;
Drying the floor surface.

Clean the surface from dust and dirt with a vacuum cleaner or dry brush. Next comes the process of leveling the surface depending on the base material of the floor.

Vacuum the floor before laying

If the base is a concrete floor that has cracks, holes, imperfections are removed cement mortar. If the concrete floor is curved or there are differences, then it is better to level it using a concrete screed. The surfaces are allowed to dry thoroughly to reduce the moisture content of the coating. It is recommended to use a polyethylene layer between the concrete and the cork covering to protect against possible condensation. Only after preparatory work The adhesive plug or lock is installed.

Base in the form wooden floor requires checking for rotten boards. If the floor is uneven, then it is leveled using sheets of plywood or chipboard. In this case, the floor will not only be ideal surface for laying cork, but will also act as additional thermal insulation.

Tool set

Installing cork on the floor yourself requires having a tool in your arsenal that will help you carry out this work efficiently and effectively.

To lay interlocking cork you need:

Pencil for marking;
Roulette;
Hacksaw for cutting cork tiles;
Wedges for installation in gaps between the wall and panels.

Tiles on a backing

Laying an adhesive cork floor requires the same tools as for a castle floor. You only need to add:

Roller or spatula for glue;
Rubber hammer;
Dishes for glue.

Gluing tiles

The adhesive plug is glued to glue, which can be water-based or solvent-based. When applying water-based adhesive, you should understand that in the event of possible flooding, the adhesive panel on such adhesive may fall off.

Installing cork flooring with solvent-based adhesive requires the use of protective equipment to prevent harmful substances into the respiratory organs. Work should be carried out with an open window to allow air to enter.

Floating floor installation

The floating floor method involves the absence of a tight connection between the floor covering and the building structure, which makes it possible to avoid the impact of building shrinkage on the covering. In this case, the flooring material does not come into contact with the side walls, and sound waves are not transmitted from them. The floor installed in this way will be insulated from noise that is generated when the floor slab is impacted by walking, moving objects, etc.

How to lay cork floor using the floating floor method? The process begins by covering the surface with a film that does not allow moisture to pass through. The film is laid in overlapping pieces, which are connected with tape. To insulate the floor under the floor covering, it is possible to lay cork backing. Panels of an incomplete row are cut without affecting the groove. The panels are placed in transverse rows from the far left corner, inserting the tongue of the next panel into the groove of the previous panel. A gap of 20-30 mm wide is left between the wall and the coating. To do this, place a wedge in the gap for expansion. Excess film is cut off. At the finish, a cork plinth is attached to the wall at a distance of 1-2 mm from the floor covering.

Today it is difficult to surprise anyone when they see cork floors. Such floors exactly replicate laminate; only a professional can find the characteristic differences. Cork tiles are compressed cork, it is also called differently MDF boards. Basically, cork is a special material that is obtained after removing the outer rind of the cork oak tree. Such trees do not grow in Russia. They can be found in Portugal and other European countries. Cork trees also grow in northern Africa. You might even think that it is blasphemy to strip the bark from living trees. But cork is dead bark, so removing it is only better for the tree. After some time, in place of the removed bark, another, renewed one will grow.

Cork floors are characterized by complete sound insulation, waterproofness, shock absorption, ease of installation, resistance to chemical influences, good adhesion, beauty and comfort.

Cork flooring is installed using a specific technology. In the same way, before covering the floor with another material, it is necessary to carefully prepare the base for the future coating, level the floors, and remove dirt and dust. It is necessary to maintain the air temperature in the room at least 18°C at all times.

Floor installation: some features

When installing cork flooring, the normal humidity level for cork flooring installation is 25%. If the moisture content of the concrete is much higher, the base must be covered. plastic film. You can make the coating with other waterproofing material.

An additional film with a thickness of more than two millimeters is placed on the polyethylene coating. This gasket will give the floor additional hydro- and sound-proofing qualities.

Similar to other coatings, the surface under the cork floor must be completely flat. It should not have slopes or changes in height. If there are any irregularities, then such a defect can be corrected with cement concrete screed. In this case, you need to remember one thing mandatory implementation one moment.

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After the screed has completely dried, it is necessary to install plywood sheets. Note that the thickness of the laid layer should be more than two centimeters. After completing the installation of the plywood, you can begin to assemble and install the cork floor.

Installing cork flooring is similar to installing laminate flooring. Basically, the cork slab is equipped with similar spikes, secured using the “click” method. Cork flooring can be installed in several ways. Moreover, each of them is very similar to installing laminate, but has some differences.

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Installation using the tenon-to-groove principle using end fastening

To install a cork floor, you need a special glue that is used to lubricate the ends of the cork tiles, without fixing the cork to the main surface. This method came to be called “floating”.

To make the seams formed between two adjacent rows invisible, the cork covering is laid so that it is directed in the direction where the light falls. Spacer wedges are used to separate the wall and the last cork slab.

The resulting gap was left on purpose. It will be a kind of compensator if the dimensions of the cork slabs change due to a change in temperature or increase in humidity.

The first row of installed cork tiles is considered the reference. This row is used to align other rows. For greater accuracy, it is advisable to use a construction level gauge. The uniformity of the cork floor must be checked after installing several rows of slabs.

Tapping the cork tiles for better contact is done with a hammer, after coating the ends of the cork tile adhesive. There are times when it is impossible to complete a row due to the dimensions of the last tile. You have to cut the tiles with a jigsaw. If you do this operation manually, an ordinary saw will do.

With this method, you need to observe one very important condition. Each new row should be offset by 0.5 times the length of the already installed row. As a result, the installation of other rows can be carried out using several tactical options. When the previously laid row is assembled only from whole tiles, the next one should begin with cork slabs sawn in the middle. When the last row has half a tile cut off at the end, the remaining part will become the beginning of the installation of the next row.

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You have to cut the plug even when you encounter various obstacles, for example, heating pipes.

What is the technology for using the tongue-and-groove method, when gluing cork tiles directly to the base? This method very similar to the previous one. Its only difference was the gluing of the cork to the surface. The glue is spread onto the tile using a special spatula, and the area where it will be glued is also coated.

The brand of glue depends on how the coating will be installed. Gluing cork tiles can be done in several ways. The standard one involves one-sided gluing, the other one involves double-sided gluing.

For the standard method, classic acrylic glue is used.

Before starting installation using this method, it is advisable to first “rehearse” a little. Lay the first two rows of tiles, noting where each of them should be. When the fitting is completed, you can begin to perform direct gluing. For uniformity with this method, after laying the third row, it is necessary to take mandatory breaks to allow the glue to dry completely.

Search interesting solutions for apartment renovation? How would you like to install a cork floor? Don’t know what it is, what the benefits are for you and how to do it? It's very simple. Let's look at what cork flooring is and how to lay it correctly.

Cork floor installation diagram.

The material for making cork is the bark of the cork oak tree. The bark is removed from trees that are 25-30 years old, but it is not used in construction. Then, within 6-9 years, the bark is restored, it is removed again (if the technology is followed, no damage is caused to the tree). And this material is already used for the manufacture of various products.

According to technology, cork fabric can be divided into types:

veneer is the most expensive type of cork;
agglomerate - the most cheap option(made by pressing at high temperature crumbs with the addition of various resins);
combined - both pieces of veneer and crumbs are used for production.

Finished panels can be processed various compositions, which affect the properties of cork and give it greater strength and moisture resistance.

Pros and cons of the material

Benefits of cork floors:

Cork floor characteristics table.

excellent heat and sound insulation;
cork - the material is elastic and resilient, does not creak, does not slip, it is pleasant to walk on it;
cork does not rot and is fireproof;
the material is hypoallergenic, does not attract dust and does not accumulate static electricity;
cork floors can withstand high blood pressure, including point ones.

Flaws:

like anyone natural material, price cork panels higher than the usual laminate or parquet boards;
the base for the cork covering must be perfectly level;
if there are cats or dogs in the house, then claw marks may remain on the cork flooring;
Over time, the protective layer wears off and tracks remain in areas of heavy traffic.

Types and options of cork flooring

Floating type (you can find the name cork parquet). Available in the form of panels with locks and consists of a layer of cork glued to an MDF panel.
The adhesive type is produced in the form of square or rectangular tiles. Sizes may vary. A protective layer can be applied on top.
Technological cork is sold in the form of rolls or plates and is used as a substrate.

For final finishing, the first 2 types are widely used, it all depends on your choice. It should be taken into account that if you plan to install cork in a bathroom or toilet, then you need to give preference to the adhesive type. This is due to the way it is processed special composition which prevents the floor from swelling.

Two ways to lay cork flooring.

Floating cork flooring is best used in a room with a low level of humidity: in a bedroom, nursery or hallway.

To lay a cork floor with your own hands, you will need:

Pencil.
Roulette.
Square for precise cutting of panels at right angles.
Long ruler.
Chop cord.
Construction knife. It can be used to easily cut adhesive-type cork panels.
Spatula or roller for applying adhesive to floors and cork boards.
Electric drill. Useful if you need to drill holes, for example, for heating pipes.
Fine-toothed hacksaw or jigsaw. These tools are useful for cutting floating panels.
Rubber hammer for fitting cork slabs into place.

Cork flooring technology

Surface preparation

Before laying the cork covering, the surface must be leveled, if necessary. It must be dry, clean and primed.

You don’t have to remove the old flooring, but lay cork on top.

Laying cork flooring with glue:

Cork floor installation diagram.

Before laying the 1st row of cork tiles, you need to use a construction cord to mark the main line along which its assembly will begin. This can be diagonal from opposite corners of the room or laid in a straight line along the walls.
Draw a pencil line using a ruler along the chop cord.
When working with glue, you must use a respirator, for example RPG-67. Cork tile adhesive is flammable and has a pungent odor. After work, the room must be thoroughly ventilated.
Apply glue evenly to the base using a spatula or roller along the marked line.
You also need to apply glue to the panel and let it dry for 10-15 minutes.
Then attach the panel to the base and tap the entire surface with a rubber hammer.
In some places it will be necessary to adjust the cork panels. To do this, marks are made with a pencil, using a square or ruler, markings are made and construction knife the excess part is cut off.
After laying the tiles on the floor, it is necessary to cover it with 2-3 layers of varnish. A two-component polyurethane varnish is perfect for these purposes.
The glue dries within 24 hours. It is advisable not to walk on the laid panels during this time to avoid their displacement.

Installing a floating cork floor

Before laying cork panels, it is necessary to lay a substrate on the base.

The substrate for these purposes is unusual. It is also made of cork. If the surface is fairly flat, you can take a 2 mm backing, for small unevenness - 4 mm.

Assembling interlocking panels is not much different from laying laminate flooring. The 1st row must be laid from the wall along the light falling from the window. This way the joints will be less noticeable. The smaller castle would face the wall. It must be remembered that a thermal gap of 5-10 mm must be left between the wall and the panel. Spacer wedges of suitable width are ideal for this purpose.

Design of a “floating” cork covering.

The panels are connected using locks. After snapping each panel into place, they are lightly tapped with a rubber hammer to ensure a secure connection without gaps.

After laying all the panels, the plinth is attached, which will hide the gap between the wall and the laid panels. You can choose any baseboard, but cork will look great.

So, the time required to lay floating cork panels will be much less. A protective layer has already been applied to them, so no additional processing is required.

When laying, you do not need to work in a respirator, and then ventilate the room and wait for the glue to dry. But floating panels have their drawbacks. The main one is that joints are afraid of moisture and dirt can accumulate in them. Therefore, they require more careful maintenance than adhesive-type cork boards. Tip: Do not plan to install cork flooring over underfloor heating. You will not achieve the desired effect, but the cork itself is a warm material.

Let's summarize: laying a cork floor with your own hands is very simple, you just need to follow the recommendations outlined. Adhesive flooring is more expensive to install, but it is easier to use. And with a floating cork floor, the installation work is cheap, but during operation it requires more attention and care.